watercamper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 22, 2021 3:52 am
Just got a 4m and a 5m. I've never even looked at a foil kite up close. The ends of the 4 bridle lines end in loops. Integrated in these loops is a small metal ring. What is it for?
Can I also assume that it's not a problem to attach a set of pigtails to the bridle lines? All of my other kites have knots on the outside lines and loops on the center lines.
Anyone have a link to a video showing how to launch with a helper, self launch, land with a helper, self land?
Inside the bag, there are some lines and some tiny loops. It appears that all of this if for the B safe system?
Inside the kite bag, there is another smaller bag made of ripstop. It has a nice velcro closure. What is this for?
To be more specific: the loops at the end of the bridle lines can be larks head knotted around the the knot at the end of the line, while the ring allows you to larks head knot over the ring ... so it doesn't matter where you have the loops or knots at the end of your flying lines. A simple an elegant solution.
The small bag is for using as a sand bag to weight the tip of the kite for side launching.
Personally I always hot launch by putting the kite on its back with the trailing edge facing into the wind & putting sand (or some other weight) on the trailing edge to hold it down, then, with the flying lines running (more or less) directly downwind to the kite pulling lightly on the front lines to pull the kite up, immediately depowering the kite as it shoots up through the power zone.
Landing can be done either by dropping the kite to the ground at the side of the wind window & releasing tension on the flying lines so the kite collapses, or pulling on the back lines while the kite is at 12.00 so that the kite collapses & falls to the ground downwind (caution if the wind is quite strong).
I have never used an assisted launch, which is a bit tricky because the kite is so light & unstructured. An assisted landing can be useful - just ask the helper to grab the lower tip of the kite & pull it down to the ground & the kite will flag out.